The Stylist That Purged Her Wardrobe
How a “complete mental wardrobe breakdown” took stylist Nadia Kandil on a new direction
Stylist, art director and podcast host, Nadia Kandil isn’t afraid of admitting her love for IKEA, has no problem pulling off a pair of men’s raw denim and has decided to turn the page in her decade long career as a stylist. We sat down to talk about the evolution of her complicated relationship to fashion and secure some styling advice before it’s too late.
What initially drew you into the world of fashion?
It was actually a coincidence that I ended up working in fashion. Initially, I wanted to work in the foreign office or for the UN. I was studying at the University of Gothenburg when I started assisting a stylist part-time, just trying to figure out what to do with my life. I was 22 at the time and I always had an interest in fashion, but no more than any other girl. Still, I found it intriguing, and I realized I was good at it, so I thought, why not?
How has your style journey evolved over the years?
When I was in my early 20s, every emerging trend felt exciting, and I had so much more stuff. As I’ve gotten older and become more confident in my style, I’ve become extremely conscious of what I bring into my wardrobe. Before, it didn’t seem unreasonable to own a hundred pairs of shoes. Today, I actually find it off-putting to have too many things. I’m more secure in knowing what I like, but also in realizing that I might like something but know deep down I would not wear it enough for it to belong in my closet. When I consider buying something, I really think it through—asking myself if I already own something similar, or if I should sell an item before purchasing a new one. Today it’s a whole process for me to actually end up purchasing something.
“About seven years ago, I had a complete mental breakdown over my wardrobe. I remember thinking, Okay, I have this massive ton of shit and still nothing to wear in the morning.”
How have you built your wardrobe?
About seven years ago, I had a complete mental breakdown over my wardrobe. I remember thinking, Okay, I have this massive ton of shit and still nothing to wear in the morning. It made no sense. So, I went into a frenzy and sold everything I wasn’t using — I didn’t even keep the pieces that were meant for special occasions. I just got rid of it all. Then, I started rebuilding my wardrobe in a really intentional way. I made notes of the things I actually missed when I got dressed for work in the morning. Not the items that would be "nice to have," but the things I truly needed on a daily basis. From there, I only bought the pieces from my list that I knew I missed, and now I have this super curated wardrobe where I can literally close my eyes and pick anything, and it works. Everything is comfortable, well-suited, and goes together with everything. Now it's also easier to add things for special occasions.
What would be your desert island garment from our women’s lineup?
I’d definitely bring a long-sleeve tee. I absolutely love them because they’re so versatile. You can wear them under layers, style them on their own, and easily dress them up or down with jewelry. They work perfectly with jeans, a mini skirt, or even tailored suit pants. I just love how adaptable they are. And of course, the merino wool crew neck - it’s another favorite. They’re timeless, comfortable, and can be styled in so many ways.
The Regular Jeans Raw Denim
Walk us through how you pulled together these looks?
Well, for the first look, the grey long-sleeve and chino in my opinion are just a great combo for an everyday outfit.
The all-black look, with the chino and the long sleeve t-shirt, is very timeless, a sort of reference to the 90s with some added jewelry to add a personal touch.
The raw denim, merino turtleneck and long sleeve t-shirt, paired with the slingback heels look really touched on this masculine-feminine aesthetic that I love.
The cardigan look played on different hues of grey which you honestly can’t go wrong with, especially for fall.
“I absolutely love the Elfa system. It's so obvious that it is designed to be used, not just looked at.”
Do you find that your interest in a capsule wardrobe extends to other areas of your life?
I think it does actually. My friends always joke that I have this “practical dad” side. For example, I love IKEA, not necessarily because it’s the most cutting-edge design, but because it’s clear that whoever designed the products actually uses them. With a lot of other furniture and interior brands, I often feel like the designs may look nice but in reality, feel uncomfortable or impractical. Products need to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. It’s the same with my wardrobe. Functionality plays a huge role for me. There’s nothing more frustrating to me than something that’s supposed to make your everyday life easier but ends up making it harder. I absolutely love the Elfa system, for example. It's so obvious that it is designed to be used, not just looked at.
The Regular Jeans Black
What’s next for you?
Right now, I'm working on a book, and that’s what I spend most of my time on. I’ve loved being a part of the fashion industry; it’s incredibly creative, and I’ve grown so much during my years in it. But I’ve always had a complicated relationship with the industry because it revolves so much around consuming more. I came to a point where it all started to feel a bit shallow and I felt the need to shift focus. Of course, there are still aspects of fashion I absolutely love - like working with brands, developing communication strategies, and visual storytelling. Love love love that process. People are so creative and so generous with their creativity. But I just felt ready to explore something new. Books have always been a huge part of my life, I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. I also studied journalism and have a BA in it, so in a way, writing feels like a natural progression. Working the way I have - always as a freelancer - has given me the freedom to try new things and just hope for the best, that’s always how I have worked. I guess it is a sense of ever moving forward.
Text SIRI TEURNEAU-FORSLID
Photo BJÖRN EKLUND
Styling NADIA KANDIL
